A Forgotten Reel, A Living Legacy

Last December, as Mike Hertl was tackling a long-overdue cleanup at the church, a small film canister labeled “Morrow” turned up in the back of a closet. Inside was something unexpected: original footage of the church’s 1953 expansion.

The film opens on Easter Sunday, capturing the groundbreaking for what would become the fellowship hall. Members of the congregation gather outside, dressed in their Sunday best, turning over dirt to mark the beginning of the project. From there, the footage follows the steady progress of construction in the months that followed—the framing rising, brick being laid, the structure slowly taking shape—interspersed with scenes from church life at the time.

What stands out isn’t just the building itself, but the sense of momentum. The congregation was growing, the needs were changing, and the church responded by expanding its physical space to meet the moment.

More than seventy years later, the fellowship hall remains a central part of church life. Seeing it in its earliest stages offers a rare window into a defining chapter of Morrow’s history—and a reminder that every generation builds something that lasts.

We’re grateful this piece of our story was rediscovered and preserved. Thank you to Mike for uncovering it, and to Don Illingworth for having it digitized.

Learn more about Morrow’s 200-year history of service and view additional historic photos on our History page.